University of Chicago endowment grows to $7.58 billion

The University of Chicago endowment grew to an all-time high market value of $7.58 billion as of June 30, 2015, marking a 4.8 percent return on investments for the preceding year on a flat, global stock market environment. This result surpassed the portfolio's benchmark return of 3.1 percent. It also surpassed the 3.6 percent median return of large endowments and foundations as reported by the Wilshire Trust Universe Comparison Service.

Vice President and Chief Investment Officer Mark Schmid noted that investment returns have added $4.1 billion in value to the endowment since the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, driven by an 11.4 percent average return.

The average compounded investment result for the University over the past five years was a 9.8 percent gain; the average over the past 10 years was an 8.3 percent gain; and the return over the past 20 years was 10.6 percent. Each compares favorably to the market-based, strategic benchmarks used by the University for these periods.

Over the past two decades, the endowment has grown from $1.1 billion to its current level of $7.58 billion.

“We view investments as an important part of an integrated approach to the University’s fiscal health,” Schmid said. “Working closely with the Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee and Financial Planning Committee, as well as University leadership, we continue to believe this integrated approach will best support the University’s mission in all types of market conditions on a long-term basis.”